Thursday, February 26, 2009

All of you will be missed

I live in Burlington Ky and despite that I still get your signal. I have been a member for several years and have really enjoyed the music and the locally produced shows. I hope that WVXU or WNKU are smart enough to maybe pickup some of them.

All of you will be missed. Good luck.

--Stan, via email

You have become like family

Keep thinking of all of you there with fondness as I will miss you all so much. I loved the early morning programs that you people produced and I will miss them as well. You have become like family.

I won't be able to make it there tomorrow [2/27/09], but please wish everyone my best. You all deserve so much more for the listening pleasure and professionalism you have brought to WMUB. Don't know what I'll do without those spectacular Day Sponsor parties in January either.

I hope you might let me know where you are going and what is going to happen to the rest of the crew.

God speed.

--Carol, via email

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Thank your for your years of terrific programming

To all of the members of the WMUB staff:

First and foremost I want to thank you all for the outstanding work you have done over the years. I have certainly enjoyed the national NPR programming but have always appreciated the local offerings from WMUB. I originally switched to WMUB from another local public broadcasting station to pick up the Mama Jazz Show. I soon grew to appreciate many of the local programs. In addition to quality programming there was always a personal touch, such as when John Hingsbergen emailed the answer to my inquiry about a specific jazz recording I had heard and liked during a broadcast. With a son who is a freshman at Miami I understand the financial constraints of the university, but you will be a loss to the community. I wish you all well.

Sincerely,

--Jonathan, email to Sound Health

Learned much from working at WMUB

[Ed.: sent to Program Director John Hingsbergen]

I realize that this message comes with much unnecessary delay, as nearly a month has spanned since the news broke about WMUB. And though I can now only speak as a far removed spectator from all the events surrounding the impending changes, I hold an elephant's weight of sympathy for all you folks at the station. I had a rare perspective into the amount of work you and others put into the operation of WMUB and it was indeed a pleasure to work alongside everyone; I learned much from the experience. Thanks for the opportunity, John.

And though this comes despite the great legacy of Mama Jazz (and the hours of construction and implementation of control room C), I can't help but thinking of all the hours tinkering with MAMA files and P: drives that now seemingly go for naught. Nevertheless, that tinkering remains a small portion of the entire effort that you and everyone else actually contributed in keeping an excellent NPR affiliate up and running at high standards. It may comfort you to know that (in my opinion) the Little Rock affiliate by no means equals the informative announcing and reporting of WMUB. They never run breaks during the alloted music beds and their weather reports are a bit painful to listen to in comparison with the high-quality of WMUB's reportage. Anyways, forgive that tangent.

I hope you'll excuse this message's tone if it is a bit too formal; I had not exactly intended to sound overly professional or anything. Also, please excuse the tardiness of this message in relation to the release of the news. And please give my best regards to Cheri and everyone at the station to whom I was unable to extend personal wishes of good luck and thanks.

Best of luck,

--Chris (WMUB Board Operator)

Thank you for the contributions over the years

We will certainly miss you each day. Thanks to each of you for all your contributions over the years. We listened in our cars and in our home everyday and you have become so much a part of our lives.

We wish each of you the best in the future. Thank you for bringing the news and so much more to this region on a daily basis.

Sincerely,

--Juan and Marcia, via email

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Will miss all the programs

Hello all WMUB staff,

I have enjoyed your programming for many years as I have driven up and down I-71 and around the Miami valley area. In the late afternoon I always appreciated your traffic reports for both the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. I will miss all the programs both national and local. Cheri Lawson's health program was always so well done and helpful. The computer help desk was also always a very interesting program. I was amazed at how well the experts could answer all the PC and Mac questions.

I am sorry Miami U. decided not to fund you anymore. I think this is really very short-sighted and certainly won't endear them to their local alumnae.

I wish all of you the very best as you move on with your careers.

Good Luck!

--Janet, Lebanon

Happy college moments at WMUB

I found some of my happiest college moments at WMUB... where I learned to play the piano, learned to love jazz, wrote my first song for my love, learned my first management principles from John and Cleve, and, in many ways, “found my voice.” My recording is attached; please let me know if it needs re-recorded or something, and please feel free to edit for time/content.

I am tremendously saddened by WMUB’s ceasing of on-air production... and I guess I still hold out hope it will be temporary. I am so thankful for my years there, and I pray that somehow, future Miami students will get a similar opportunity.

My best to you and the folks at WMUB; please let me know what I can do for you, if anything, to help find your next gig. In the meantime, I hope to be able to stop up on Monday to shoot some pics and say hello.

Cheers,

--Justin, via email

Saddens me greatly

It saddens me greatly that WMUB's current broadcast lineup will be lost when WGUC takes over management. I listen to both stations, with a significant preference for the creative and local community orientation of WMUB.

The staff and management of WMUB deserve praise and appreciation for the unique and outstanding radio they consistently provided to the southwest Ohio region. The loss of WMUB will be a significant cultural, informational and community adhesive loss to southwest Ohio.

I wish all the outstanding radio personalities, who will be picking up the pieces of their careers to go elsewhere, to understand they have pure gold nuggets among those seeming shards. Our loss will be someone else's gain.

As one who could have done more, these words will not help, for I know I could not - alone - have done enough. But had I the resources . . . .

--Roger, via email

Overcome with sadness

I have just opened the March SoundWords and am overcome with sadness. Seeing the faces of the voices I have been listening to as they say goodbye just seems too final.

I have lived in Ohio for almost five years now and I have listened to your station everyday that I have been at home during those years. What a wonderful station. I cannot imagine being without your voices and programs in my home.

Thanks for all your great work and all the best to everyone of you as you move on.

--MLH, Lebanon

Professionalism is appreciated

Since moving to the Dayton area 5 years ago, I must say that you have been my source of entertainment and information while commuting to and from work every day. Your professionalism has been appreciated. The content of your message has been perceived as facutal and reliable. I will truly miss the names and voices of those who I have listened to for these few years. Cheri Lawson and Tana Weingartner have become unknown friends. I don't know where your future leads, but I wish you the very best. Through my career, experiences such as what you're going through have always been viewed as blessings six months to a year down the road. I hope this holds true for all of you as well.

Thank you.

--John, Dayton

Come back, Shane!

For all WMUB radio staff...

I am so sorry you are leaving us...Al I can think to say is "Shane! Shane! Come back, Shane!"

And thank each and every one of you so very much! You will not be forgotten!

--Roger, Eaton

[Ed.: we can't assume everyone in our audience has seen the classic Western Shane. But everyone should.]

You've touched my family

I’ve been a dedicated listener and supporter for about six years. WMUB is my number one pre-set station and I almost always have my radio tuned to listen. My son, now 10, has grown over the past six years listening to local shows as well as national broadcast. We talk about stories we hear and he asks me questions about things that I wouldn’t have thought he’d pick up.

I’m going to miss each of your voices, the local programs, and everything about WMUB. Please know that you’ve touched my family and you’ve made us better, smarter, more aware people.

Kind regards and best of luck to each of you.

--Michelle, via email

Flat TVs are expensive; WMUB is priceless

An Open Letter to President David Hodge, Provost Jeffrey Herbst and VP David Creamer:

[On February 3, 2009], I attempted to attend the public meeting Miami University conducted on its planned lease of WMUB’s signal to WGUC and the cessation of local programming in Oxford. I managed to get as far as Loveland before the winter storm virtually paralyzed traffic on I-275. I suppose I was just one of many who were unable to be there but the trip was not in vane.

As I entered Ohio and drove west on the interstate, I picked up WMUB, which was providing excellent coverage of the weather on its newscasts and during breaks on All Things Considered. I noticed that Gary Scott devoted his fine program, WMUB Forum, Friday morning on the response to the storm, from a Butler County perspective. I’m sure WMUB filled the entire week with timely information about utility services, emergency shelters, road conditions, school closings and the like, all with a more rural flavor reflecting the region the station covers. Of course, this is precisely why WMUB should continue its current services.

WMUB holds a broadcast license to serve its community and that community extends far beyond the Miami University campus. It would be folly to presume WGUC, also a wonderful station, will fill this void.
Having worked at WMUB for 12 years and being a proud graduate of Miami, I know how the station has provided unique and comprehensive public affairs programming to address the region’s needs and challenges. The station won AP awards for its reporting on a water crisis in Oxford, a strike by teachers in the Talawanda School District, hunger and homelessness in Butler County, plant closings and job retraining, problems with the farm economy and others too numerous to mention. Under the leadership of former News Director Bob Long, the station broadcast election returns, candidate debates and special programs on key issues appearing on local ballots.

The above endeavors were not just important because of the exclusive service they offered but because they involved the education of Miami students. Student reporters blanketed the region, interviewing members of Congress and the state legislature, city managers, county commissioners, and citizens impacted by public policy decisions. For many, it was their first experience as news reporters and today they work at networks as well as local radio and TV stations across the country. The success stories are legion and phenomenal. However, those students who heard a different calling in life were the better for it, too. The traditional classroom walls of the university came down and students had opportunities for educational experiences they would not otherwise have had, were it not for WMUB. They would all tell you this if they had the opportunity.

As a former manager myself at two different radio stations, I can certainly understand the need to make sometimes painful economies in one’s budget. However, I’ve read the articles about WMUB and Miami University’s financial dilemma and I find considerable incongruity between these situations. As I understand it, here’s the problem in a nutshell. Miami University’s budget totals nearly $350 million dollars and it‘s facing a budget deficit of more than $20 million dollars. It costs Miami $200,000 more to operate the station than WMUB is able to bring in through grants, membership drives and underwriting.

So, it’s too expensive to continue running WMUB? Too expensive to provide the aforementioned community services to the region. Too expensive to offer students the type of “hands on” vocational training that has supplemented their classroom experience for decades. Two-hundred thousand dollars out of a budget that stretches into the hundreds of millions.

I reject this conclusion. Flat-screen TVs are too expensive. British sports cars are too expensive. A license to broadcast is an incredibly powerful and influential tool. It is priceless.

Finally, the decision to shut down local operations at WMUB is very unMiamilike. You’re giving up. You’re saying the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, Kent State and others are all able to do things we can’t. They beat us and we simply can’t compete.

As a life-long lover of Miami sports, I’ve seen some lean years on the gridiron and on the basketball court. However, I’ve never seen a Miami team give up. Let’s not do it with WMUB, either.

Sincerely,

--Dan, Morehead, KY

Going to be a sad week

To all of my Friends at WMUB,

It is going to be a very sad week as I listen to the final segments of so many parts of the station that is an integral part of my life. From the BBC when I get up in the morning, the weather and school closings tailored for our area, to the voices of so many fine professionals, the local programming, the voices of local commentators, League of Woman Voter forums, Day Sponsors of Friends and Neighbors, imaginative scheduling of extra programming and evening rebroadcasts of shows that are on during the day, I will miss all of you. I will always be a supporter of Public radio, but will miss no longer being a part of MY public radio station. The very best of Luck and Health to all of you in the future,

--Jack from Oxford

Monday, February 23, 2009

Will miss the local content

While my time with your station has been short, I will miss your local news, content and variety.

Thanks to your staff, and Miami for providing great radio, it will sad this week and next as we transition to our sole NPR source from Cincinnati.

--Jeff, via email

WMUB and jazz

[Ed.: Ron Gable publishes the online newsletter Jazz Advocate.]

So how did we come up with the name “Jazz Advocate?” Going on fourteen years ago, I discovered Mama Jazz on 88.5 FM, which rejuvenated my love for the music. In those days, the majority of the station’s program was jazz and a nice selection of other music along with NPR news. Aside from Phyllis Campbell (Mama Jazz), they had a number of other live DJ’s – Sam Meier, Don Leshner and Tracy DiMartini devoted to jazz and big band music.

Then came some program changes along with a new station manager (Cleve Callison) to implement them. Music was dropped from daytime programming with one DJ eliminated, one re-assigned to other duties and one had his program greatly reduced. The one main stay was the Mama jazz program but they did eliminate her call in request lines as well. While all of this was, transpiring at WMUB other media was dropping jazz and this was the main reason I decided to start a website giving our local jazz artists some kind of publication to keep fans informed.

I continued to listen to Mama Jazz and frequently called Cleve Callison to let him know my displeasure and finally on one occasion he said “look Ron, I know you’re a real jazz advocate but.” So the name “Jazz Advocate” came from the soon to be ex-manager of station WMUB. I have long since reconciled any bad feelings with the station and have enjoyed the Mama Jazz show to this day (on their HD channel 2) but all will end soon as Miami University is dropping the station after fifty-eight years.

You can read all the details at: http://www.wmub.org/WMUBchanges2009/#WMUBGM
As Cleve quotes “nothing gold can stay” but I want to thank all of them for the years of enjoyment they brought me.

--Ron Gable – Jazz Advocate

Jazz is greatly loved

I just wanted to weigh in on the fact that Mama Jazz and your HD2 channel are well loved and greatly appreciated! I have listened to Mama for a long time; she kept me awake during my long, late commutes home from grad school at Ball State University. I now reside in Charleston, SC, where the local public radio stations broadcast exclusively "Classical." I CAN'T TAKE IT!

So, I was elated when I recently discovered your HD2 station. However, I also discovered that BIG changes are soon to occur with WMUB, and am terribly upset about it. Even if I now make a small donation (I'm currently laid off), would it be too little too late? What will become of Mama?

Best wishes to all of the staff and management at WMUB; I sincerely hope that all GOOD THINGS do not have to come to an end.

--Nancy, via email

Radio won't be the same

Your radio station has become a friend to me over the years. I can not express how much I am going to miss what WMUB has to offer me. Sure, I can still listen to the NPR shows, but the community news and features will be gone.

Thank you WMUB staff for your professionalism and creativity you have brought to the airwaves.

Radio will never be the same without you.

--Sincerely, Susan, via email

Sunday, February 22, 2009

WMUB has been major source of news

We have listened to and supported WMUB for all the time that we have lived in Eastern Indiana, and we have had close contact with Miami University...

We spend much of the year in Montana, now, and we were surprised and concerned by the news that Miami could no longer support WMUB. We listen to WMUB practically every day that we are in Richmond (IN), and, in our area of marginal TV and small-town newspapers, it is our major source of world news. Presently, family ties have carried us to Montana for eight months of the year, but without current affairs public radio we probably would not return to the Tri-State for any part of the year.

I understand from News Releases that WMUB (or at least some NPR coverage) will continue under Cincinnati NPR. Nevertheless, we lost WVXR to "Christian Radio" earlier, and we desperately hope that we will not be left out in a marginal area with no access at all to fairly and honestly reported current affairs.

Whatever the outcome, we wish we could be at the good-bye party this month. We would like to say thanks to all the staff who have helped educate and entertain us over the years, yet whom we have never met in person.

Thank you for all you have done; and please tell us the best way for us continue our support for NPR in our part of the tri-state.

Please send our thanks and appreciation to all the staff.

--Sam and Ruth, Richmond

[Ed.: many of WMUB's current lineup of national programs will continue when 88.5 begins broadcasting the signal of WVXU-FM next week. See WVXU.org for details.]

Will treasure the memories

I wish we could be there, but ... I'll be returning from a business trip. I'm still stunned by the University's decision, and I will still not know how to react until long after the change has been made.

I hope you and your staff land safely, and that any hardships are brief. I will treasure my earliest WMUB memory of joining during a pledge drive while listening to Mama Jazz from my dorm room ("I can't afford much right now, but can I still get a bumper sticker for my dorm window?" - no car at school of course.) And I'll miss listening to you all. Good luck and God Speed.

--Scott, Class of '82

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Thank you for being "my" WMUB

Thank you for being "my" WMUB. I can't imagine living in a town without a local NPR station. It is my window to my community and to my world. My perspective on issues is always changed because of WMUB.

And thank you for being you and putting your professional heart and soul into our community. How many physcians can count upon their local NPR manager to help them diagnosis cases as you did when I had a child with
synesthesia....and after multiple neurologists and psychologists had never heard of the condition?

I LOVE the Tuesday morning programing...How can you know so much practical stuff aboutcomputers as a medievalist? I love the Forum and
Free Advice. Particularly when Mary Jo was on Free Advice. I would listen and relisten and copy down her recipes. You are my cookbook to the world!

Thank you Cleve and My WMUB. I love you all and I will miss you terribly.

--Ellen Buerk, Oxford

Cleve Callison (callistc-at-muohio.edu)
Sent from my mobile.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Help Desk contributed to solace of others

I will miss the computer guys on your Tuesday morning, locally produced show [Help Desk]. But my missing it is not as important as Camilla Flintermann’s use of it while she was living.

Camilla was a retired woman, widow of Peter Flintermann (a professor at Miami). He eventually died of Parkinson’s Disease. Camilla, as his primary caregiver found solace and support in an online chat group for Parkinson’s Caregivers. She eventually became moderator of that group as well as one of its chatters. She also used her computer to moderate a chat group of Palestinians and Jews who wished to bring peace to the West Bank region of Israel. Since many Palestinians have left the area to find work around the world, and there are many others from around the world who wish to offer their comments, this was a world-wide network for peace. Camilla was not very computer literate and your computer guys helped her solve more than one glitch on her computer. You even used her voice on your advertising piece describing how many emails she had waiting when the computer guys finally got her back into her email system.

While many people never get to know how their efforts contributed to the peace and solace of others, I wanted you and the computer guys to know what your efforts meant.

I’m so sorry this resource will no longer be with us here in Oxford.

--Bonita Porter, MA
SUMSRI Program Coordinator
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Miami University

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Admiration for the staff

Just wanted to let you know how many people are expressing admiration for the way the WMUB staff has performed and is performing in these trying times. The dedication and professionalism all of you displayed and are displaying is admirable. I doubt that any other group could have done what you all did to make WMUB part of the life of not just Oxford, but Dayton and Indiana. . .

I will not only miss hearing the voices of my friends and acquaintances on air but everything that WMUB brought to this community. You all did a stellar job.

I am disappointed at WMUB's demise and the priorities that decision represents. It is hard to see this happening to a good station and the good people who made it happen.

--Name withheld, Miami U.

So many reasons to be saddened

[Loss of the Community Calendar] is one of so many reasons that we are deeply saddened by the loss of WMUB as we have known, supported, and loved it.

WMUB has been our station of choice since moving to the midwest almost 30 years ago, and the community calendar has been my best source for the kind of things that interest us.

We surely wish that this particular change did not have to happen. We wish all of you well in whatever comes next.

With appreciation,

--Ruth & David, Richmond

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Still in shock

I am still in shock that WMUB is “leaving.” I want to thank everyone associated with WMUB for all the joy, companionship, spiritual growth, education, news - that you have brought to me.

A guest on Diane Rehm this week used the term “circle of intimates.” Radio is certainly an intimate medium, and I have considered all of you my circle of friends as I listen each day at home, at work and in the car. We moved to Richmond, IN, 36 years ago and we have never found a better public radio station, near or far. I’ve especially enjoyed Interconnect and Free Advice and want to thank Cheri and John for all the energy and love they put into these programs.

I want to “live” all that I’ve learned on Interconnect, so I know that change is a good thing, and I truly believe that all of you will have adventures in your future that are even more and even better than your adventure at WMUB.

I wish everyone the best, and appreciate all you have given your listeners.

Sincerely,

--Cindy, Richmond

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Amazed at the value WMUB has added

As a grad student, I had the privilege to host Miami Music Hall and All Things Considered on WMUB in 1975-'76. I know times are tough and getting tougher in and out of the radio business and that fiscal priorities must be set for the "greater good." That being said along with you and your staff I mourn the loss of local programming on WMUB.

As an interested observer, I've watched the improvements in programming and outreach to the community you've made over the past years. I'm amazed at the value you've added to the NPR product. Your management of the limited resources available to you has not only extended WMUB's reach and impact but also served the Dayton-Cincinnati corridor in very positive ways. I'm amazed at what you all have been able to accomplish. I'm equally certain you extended the local life of the station through forward thinking and leadership. Thank you for that.

I'm certain Cincinnati Public Radio will do a fine job carrying the NPR flag in the years to come but there will always be something missing for me. I'll continue to support public radio but as teacher of communications on the high school level I will no longer have you and your staff to point to as examples of creativity, dedication and professionalism. Best of luck now and in the future.

Sincerely,

--Dave, Hamilton

Decision is unfortunate

My late husband and I were long-time supporters of WMUB and for the past nearly ten years have been day sponsors. As residents of Oxford since 1964, WMUB was always a staple in our lives, so the decision to make these changes are unfortunate. During these approximately 59 years, many fine news broadcasters got their start at WMUB and over 35,000 listeners have depended on the station. Although I can understand the current financial situation, the money expended on WMUB – which produces fine, educated young people – is so little compared to the amount spent on athletics, which may occasionally produce a “star.”

My question now is: I have paid for day sponsorship for 6 March 2009 in memory of my husband, Jerry. Since the change in operations occurs on 1 March 2009,– will that day sponsorship be honored or will I be refunded the $150 I have paid?

Thank you,

--Frances, Oxford

[Ed.: we are working with Cincinnati Public Radio on an answer to this.]

Monday, February 09, 2009

Sorry to hear voices disappearing

I am indeed sorry to hear my long familiar local programs and voices on WMUB are disappearing in the coming weeks.

Over many years I also listened to WGUC and WVXU and witnessed their demise as well.

My thanks and best wishes to you and your staff (John Hinsbergen and others) at WMUB. The years of service are much appreciated.

--Michael, alumnus and retired from Miami University

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Sad that WMUB was locked into NPR

How sad it is that WMUB has lined up lock step with the public pablum of NPR. While NPR has some well produced programs, this programming is available on at least two other stations in the region. The local content is what made WMUB great, I personally love help desk and the homey dissertations by Professor Winkler even though I disagree with him most of the time. The University, the community and the public listening audience would have been better served by running AWAY from NPR and not into its corporate arms. Mama Jazz would have never happened without a petrie dish like WMUB as support. The next Mama Jazz won't have this kind of opportunity as our radio station will be too busy suckling from the corporate NPR teat forever more.

--Tom, via email

So sorry the end seems near

I am SO SORRY that the end seems so near for my favorite tech show [Help Desk]. I hope you and the Dukes find a way to keep offering something -- maybe nationally -- for those of us who rely on you so much.

--Liz and Tom, Savannah, GA [listening online]

Friday, February 06, 2009

Saddened to hear about decision

I am saddened to hear of your decision to rebroadcast WVXU. I frequently drive to Oxford from Cincinnati at night, and thoroughly enjoyed your independent programming, especially Momma Jazz and other original programming. The trend to nationally syndicated programming is a mistake -- it stifles local artists, and homogenizes the music and opinions I have come to depend on for local information and arts. I suppose there is no alternative to your decision at this time, but would hope that sometime in the future economic conditions will permit a return to local programming.

In addition, WVXU and WMUB reception pretty much overlap, and I fear your listening pool will further dry up until WMUB evaporates into the ether.

Thanks for the wonderful music you have provided.

--Jim, via email

[Ed.: to clarify, the decision to change WMUB was made by Miami University, not WMUB.]

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Gentle, literate & informative programming

I'm saddened by the news of WMUB's untimely demise. I am a WMUB member who lives in rural East Central Indiana where MUB's signal overlaps with the Indiana Public Radio listening area, and have always felt that WMUB's gentle, literate, and informative local programming is head and shoulders above that provided by IPR. I know very little about Miami University - though the fact that a small rural Ohio liberal arts college has served as a home for such an undervalued and progressive gem has often been a source of amazement to me. I suppose this takes a bit of that sheen off; it seems that "the declining economy" is providing cover for the president to sacrifice an asset which, in reading the brief press release, we get the feeling he has considered a burden for a long time. Sometimes you really don't know what you've got until it's gone - but this time I think most of us do know. I'm upset that the university doesn't see this.

--Eric, Farmland, IN

A mark of excellence

Dear Friends:

I cannot simply let my favorite station go down without at least voicing my displeasure. WMUB is a mark of excellence on an incredibly cluttered radio dial.

My assumption is that an administration with an agenda is the root of WMUB’s demise. I’m afraid many corporations and institutions are using the current economic crisis to justify moves they would have been afraid to make previously for fear of public backlash. Even if our voices fall on deaf ears, please register this listener’s extreme disappointment at the loss.

WMUB has been a very public display of quality and integrity on behalf of Miami University. The current action has negated that representation.

Thank you for your years of dedicated service. I will miss you.

--Paul, Englewood

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Tens of thousands depend on WMUB

I will not be able to attend the Tuesday afternoon forum concerning WMUB, but I wanted to express my opinion of the decision to close WMUB. When a Miami student decides on a major, as I did many years ago, there are maybe 500 students depending upon the department. They expect a funded department. Now there are many tens of thousands of people who are no less "students" who are "enrolled" in WMUB. They depend on WMUB for their continuing education. They also expect a funded department / station.

Now you might say that WVXU will continue that education. I have been recently listening to WVXU and looking at their schedule. Yes there are a few programs that would continue. But for the loyal WMUB students WVXU falls far short of what we have grown to expect. The quality of WVXU does not compare to WMUB.

Closing WMUB is throwing us out in the cold. The staff of WMUB is so outstanding I have formed a friendship with many of them. It has taken many years to assemble this staff. Even if WMUB can rise out of the ashes it would take several decades to again have such quality. Maybe, just maybe, you can reconsider such a disastrous decision.

Thank you for consideration,

--Donald, Dayton